The 'National Investigation Committee' into the acts of violence that occurred in Syria's Suwayda governorate last year affirmed that accountability 'will target those who sparked sedition and those who incited it, and there will be no tolerance for anyone who committed a violation.'

The Ministry of Justice had announced the start of trial sessions for the accused as of July 1 of this month. Local sources in Suwayda considered that accountability 'if carried out legally to achieve justice and fairness, would be an important step towards solving the Suwayda problem,' while other sources doubted 'the government's seriousness in prosecuting the accused.'

Additional security measures around the Palace of Justice after the bombing (AFP)

The spokesman for the 'Investigation Committee,' lawyer Ammar Azz al-Din, told 'Syrian News Channel' that the committee was keen to adhere to the conditions of fair trials, stressing the importance of public trials.

He announced that the second session of the trials will be on July 13 of this month, and attendance at trial sessions is open to those who wish, noting that the number of defendants in the Suwayda events 'cannot be counted at the current stage due to the continuation of investigations.'

He stressed that the state 'is serious about holding accountable all perpetrators of violations, and that arresting any person does not mean proving that they committed violations before the completion of investigations.'

Azz al-Din explained that dozens of defendants from various parties 'are currently subject to trial procedures, and the rule of law is applied to everyone without exception regardless of rank or position.' He added: 'Accountability will target those who sparked sedition and those who incited it, and we stress that there will be no tolerance for anyone who committed a violation, and we are keen to ensure a fair trial for victims and defendants.'

In July 2025, the Druze-majority governorate of Suwayda in southern Syria witnessed acts of violence that resulted in the deaths of more than 2,000 people, including 789 Druze civilians, according to Syrian media. The 'National Investigation Committee' formed by Syrian authorities documented at least 1,760 deaths, according to a report it presented last March.

Elements of gunmen loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri during a patrol in Suwayda (Archive - AFP)

The committee announced after its formation that it prepared a 'list of suspects from the Ministries of Defense and Interior, Druze factions, and civilians including Bedouins and clans, for committing serious crimes and violations.'

On Friday, the head of the 'Investigation Committee,' Judge Hatem al-Naasan, said in a statement published by the Ministry of Justice on its accounts: 'The Military Public Prosecution has begun referring a number of individuals to the investigative judge,' noting that some cases have been referred to the 'Military Criminal Court in Damascus.'

Al-Naasan added that the court began considering them 'in public sessions starting from July 1, in the presence of the defendants and their lawyers, and according to the procedures stipulated in applicable laws and guarantees of a fair trial,' explaining that the purpose of these procedures is 'to verify the facts and hold accountable anyone proven responsible for any violations... regardless of their capacity or the entity to which the actions are attributed.'

For his part, a political activist in Suwayda, who preferred not to be named, considered the government's announcement 'a decent attempt, but not up to the event because the issue is more complex than a matter of criminal trials, and the scene is more political than criminal.'

Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri surrounded by his followers from the 'National Guard' (Suwayda 24)

The activist added to Asharq Al-Awsat: 'What happened in Suwayda was the result of a defect, and all parties bear responsibility for it. The de facto authority in Suwayda bears a large part of this responsibility, but the largest part is borne by the state as the guardian of all citizens in the country.'

The activist considered that the implementation of the 'roadmap' announced last September from Damascus to resolve the Suwayda crisis with American and Jordanian support, 'is a necessary matter, but the implementation of the roadmap is subject to the criteria of the conflict with Israel, which uses the governorate as a bargaining chip over issues related to Mount Hermon, and its violations in southern Syria.'

A local source in Suwayda city, opposed to the policies of the head of the Druze Unitarian sect, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, and what is known as the 'National Guard' that seized large parts of Suwayda after the eruption of the crisis, affirmed 'that we are in favor of holding accountable those involved in the recent events from both sides, except for those who were defending their homes, families, and country.'

But the source, who preferred not to be named, added to Asharq Al-Awsat: 'We do not see the government being serious about holding accountable those responsible for the crimes committed in Suwayda, and it is just media hype,' noting that 'those arrested are a small part of the perpetrators and have incriminated themselves with videos that spread from their mobile phones, and despite nearly a year since the events, we have not heard of anyone being tried.' At the same time, the source considered that accountability 'if carried out in a fair legal manner, and to achieve justice and fairness, would be an important step towards solving the Suwayda problem.'

Syrian security forces near a road sign in Suwayda city on July 15, 2025 (Reuters)

For her part, Mrs. Maysaa Abdallah, a resident of Suwayda city, doubted 'the seriousness of the Syrian government in prosecuting those accused of committing acts of violence in the governorate.'

She told Asharq Al-Awsat: 'My position and orientation regarding what is happening in Suwayda is known: I am against the position of the factions here, and at the same time, the authorities have not taken any step that makes the residents here trust them, and they are contributing to alienating Suwayda from them, from Damascus, and from Syrians, and it is not known whether this is being done intentionally or unintentionally,' as she put it.